Adjustable spider for deep well turbine pumps



Jul 14, 1932. J, A wlNTROATH I 3,853,213

ADJUSTABLE SPIDER FOR DEEP WELL TURBINE PUMPS Filed DeG. lO. 1927TTORNEK Patented June 14, `1932 UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE JOHN A.WINTROATH, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 PEERLESS PUMPCOMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIAADJUSTABLE SPIDER FOR DEEP WELL TURBINE PUMPS Application filed December10, 1927. Serial No. 239,253.

of the well casing. Extending from the pump head downward into the wellis a discharge casing which carries a pump section at the lower endthereof, this pump section being below the surface ofthe Huid in thewell.

Also extending from the pump vvhead to the pump section is a tubing. Thetubing is supported inside of the discharge casing by means of spiders.Inside the tubing at frequent intervals are bearings which journal ashaft which extends from the pump head yto the pump bowl in the well.The shaft carries impellers located in impeller chambers of the pumpbowl. The impellers are rotated by suitably rotating the shaft and fluidis pumped to the surface of the ground through the discharge pipe.

The spiders commonly in use hold the tubing rigidly, and in such aposition that the axis 4of the tubing falls along the axis of thedischarge casing. Frequently, wells are not a spider which isadjustable.

straight and anyvbend therein will cause the discharge casing to be bentalso This, in turn, will cause the shaft and the tubing to be similarlybent.

It is an object of my invention to provide It-is'a further object of myinvention to provide a spider which will not necessarily hold the tubingand the discharge casing in axial alignment.

A further object of my invention is to provide a spider which will allowthe shaft to be straight irrespective of any slight crookedness in thewell. A

A further object of my invention is 'to provide a spider which willallow a relative side Awise movement between the discharge casing andthe shaft or tubing. It is extremely desirable that the shaft bevexactly straight, for if the shaft is to have an axis which is slightlybent, undue forces will be exerted on the bearings journalling the shaftcausing them to quickly wear out.

Furthermore, each revolution of the shaft will cause a reversal ofstress in the bent-axis shaft which will eventually cause the shaft tofail in a typical fatigue failure. When such a shaft is bent androtated, an oscillation is set up in the bearings thereof, the period ofthis oscillation being the length of time of one revolution. Thisoscillating movement tends to throw the bearing from one side of thedischarge casing to the other and is detrimental toboth the shaft andthe bearings.

It is an object of my invention to provide a. spider which will tend todamp out a sidewise oscillation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a spider operating on theprinciple of a dashpot to prevent any sidewise movement between theshaft and the discharge casing.

A further object of my invention is to provide a spider having aresistance to sidewise movement, this resistance bein controllable atthe surface of the groun Further objects and advantages of my inventionwill be made evident hereinafter.

In the drawing,-

Fig. 1 is a view showing the utility of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the spider of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of my invention taken alongthe line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, a well casing 10 is set in a well 11.A pump head 13 is situated at the top of the well casing 10 and has amotor lsituated on the top thereof. Extending downward in the wellinside of the well casing 10 is a discharge casing 16 formed of lengths18 secured together by suitable together by bolts 31.v That portion ofthe counterbore 27 which is bounded at the top by the lower edge of theupper collar 21 forms an annular channel 34 for a purpose to bedescribed, this annular channel providing a pair of opposed side walls34aand 346 and a bottom wall 34e.

Secured to the lowest length 18 of the dis-v charge casing 16 is a pumpsection 35 having one or more impeller chambers 36 formed therein.Passages 37 communicate between the impeller chambers 36 and theinterior of the discharge casing 16.

Extending from the pump head 13 to the pump section 35 inside of thedischarge casing 16 is a tubing 40 formed of sections 41. The sections41 are secured together by means of bearings 44 which are threaded intoadjacent lengths 41 to securely hold them together, as best shown inFig. 1. The uppermost section of tubing passes through an opening 45 ina saddle 46 of the pump head. The upper end of this section of tubing isthreaded to receive a nut 47 which is adapted to bear against the saddle46 and place a tension on the tubing. A shaft 50 extends from the motor14 through each of the bearings 44 and enters the pump section 35. Animpeller 51 is secured to the shaft 50 in each of the impeller chambers36, these impellers being adapted to draw well-Huid from the bottom ofthe pump section and raise it through the annular space between uthedischarge casing 16 and the tubing 40. This lluid is discharged from thepump head 13.

Located at each of the cuplings 19 of the discharge casing 16 is a`spider 55 of my invention. The spider 55 has a hub 56 having a taperinghole 57 formed thereon. The tapering hole 57 is larger than the outsidediameter of the tubing 40. Split taper bushings 58 are forced in thehole 57 of the hub 56 between the hub and the tubing, as bestillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. These bushings 58 are adapted to fit thetapering hole 57 and to centralize the tubing 4() in the hub 56 of eachspider 55. By tightly driving the split taper bushings 58 between thehub56 and the tubing 40, it is possible to securely clamp this tubing tothe hub. I prefer, however, not to form a tight fit between the tubing40 and the hub 56. By making the split taper bushings slightlywedge-shaped to exactly it the tapering opening 57 in the hub, it ispossible to allow the tubing 40 to be raised relative to the hub56, thesplit taper bushings rising a distance in the'bore 57 and separating a'small distance to allow this movement. Any downward movement of thetubing 40 will be arrested by the split taper bushings 58 firmly seatingin the hub 56.

Extending outward from the hub 56 are arms 60. The outer ends of thearms 60 are joined by a rim 61 which is adapted to extend' into theannular chamber 34 of the coupling 19. The rim 61 has an outer periphery62 which is larger in diameter than the discharge casing 16, but smallerin diameter than the annular chamber 34. Thus, the spider 55 may bemoved sideways in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft.

Extending around the periphery 62 of the rim 61 is a channel-shapedwasher 65. Spaced closely together insideof the channelshaped washer 65are spring clips 67 which are adapted to engage the legs of thechannelshaped washer and force them outward against the upper and lowerwalls of the annular chamber 34. A ring is passed around each of thespring clips 67 and compresses these clips and the washer 65 against theouter periphery 62 of the spider 55. The

tension in the ring 70 is adjusted by means of a bolt 69 which passesthrough the ends of the member which form the ring 70. By tightening thebolt 69, it is possible to tightly compress the ring against the springclips which in turn compress the washer 65 against the outer periphery62.

That portion of the annular channel 34 whichis outside of the washer 65comprises an annular chamber 72. Communicating be-- tween each chamber72 and the exterior of the couplings 19 is an opening 7 4; The openings74 of each of the couplings 19 are connected together by means of pipes75, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These pipes 75 communicate with apipe 76 which enters the pump head' 13. A suitable high-pressurelubricating nipple 77 is secured to the upper end of this pipe. Such anipple is well known in the art, and is adapted to receive the fittingof a high-pressure gun containing a suitable medium. The nipple 77 has aball check valve to prevent any return flow of medium forcedtherethrough.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

' The pump section is assembled and lowered into the Well a shortdistance. Lengths of discharge tubing 18 are assembled thereon and aresecured together by couplings 19 in the manner previously described. Atthe same time, the tubing 40 is inserted in lace length by length, andthe shaft 50 is Journalled in the bearings 44 therein. As each coupling19 is assembled, it is desirable to pack the annular chamber 72 thereofwith a heavy oil. I prefer to use an oil having a high viscosity for apurpose to be described. When the pump and pump head are completelyassembled, the oil is forced through the nipple 77 into the pipes 75 and76. These pipes are completely filled with the heavy oil. The pressure4of this oil can be regulated by the amount of oil forced through thenipple asl soV

77. At this time a considerable tension is is made possible even thoughthe discharge casing 16 is slightly curved, due to the use of h thespiders 55 of my invention. These spiders may move sidewise relative tothe discharge casing 16, and, in so doing, the rim 61 becomesdecentralized relative to the discharge casing 16. Such a condition isshown in the drawings. Here the spider 55 has moved to the rightand itwill be noticed that the rim 61 is pushed further into the annularchannel 34 on the right-hand side than on the left-hand side thereof, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3. As the spider 55 moves to one side, the fluid inthe annular chamber 72 will be displaced away from the side toward whichthe spider moves and will move around into that space diametricallyopposite. This is because of the fact that, as the spider 55 is\ moved,the volume of the annular chamber 72 on the side toward which movementtakes place is decreased, and the volume of the annular chamber 72 onthe side opposite the direction of movement will be increased. Thus,the` oil in the chamber will have to flow from one side of the chamberto the other to compensate for this difference in volume. By using theoil of sufficient viscosity, it should be apparent that this movement ofthe oil through the annular chamber 72 would be impeded, especiallyinasmuch as the spring clips 67 offer an added sur ace of contactbetween the oil and the spider 55. The annular chambers 34 thus act as adashpot to prevent the sudden movement of the spiders 55 to one side;Such a sidewise oscillating` motion isset up with every revolution ofthe shaft if this shaft is not exactly straight. Such an oscillatingmovement vwill be transmitted to the tubin 40 through the bearings 44and will thus tend to vibrate the spider from one side to the other. Theoil in the chamber 72 effectively prevents any quick movement of thespider 55 from taking place. Any continued pressure in a certaindirection would, however, move the spider in that direction as the oilcould. flow in the chamber 7 2 yto com'- pensate for this displacement,if given sufcient time. It should thus be apparent that my invention notonly tends to let the shaft 50 rotate on a straight axis, but that italso tends to prevent the whipping of the shaft should there be anyslight bends therein.

It is also within the scope of my invention to assemble the pump andpump head without supplying each coupling 19 with a lubricating mediumas it is assembled. In such a case the oil could be forced through thenipple 77 and would be transferred to each coupling 19 through the pipes76 and 75.

It is within the scope of my invention to use any material in theannular chamber 72 of each coupling 19. For instance, it is enltirelypossible to force a substance through -the pipes and into the chamber 72which will eventually harden after the tubing 40 as been placed undertension to straighten it relative to the discharge casing 16. Such asubstance might be any type of cement which will harden to form anextremely hard body when allowed to set. When such a material is used,the chambers 72 are filled with a solid instead of a fluid, and thespider 55 will be rigidly held in the position it assumes when thetension is placed on the tubing 40.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination: an outer element; an inner element extending intosaid outer ele- -mcnt; a spider between said outer and said innerelements, said spider being adjustable to allow a sidewise movement ofone of said elements relative to the other of said elements; and fluidmeans around said spider, said means acting as a dashpot to retard saidsidewise movement.

2. In combination: an outer element, said outer element having anannular channel; an inner element extending into said outer element; aspider on said inner element, said spider being smaller in diameter thansaid annular channel and set therein and engaging opposed walls of saidannular channel to be guided in its sidewise movement therein; and afluid in said channel adapted to retard the sidewise motion of saidinnerelement relative to said outer element.

g gaging the walls of said channel to form an annular chamber; and meansin said annular chamber for retarding any movement of said spider insaid annular channel.

4. In a turbine pump, the combination of: a casing, said casing havingan annular channel therein; a shaft in said casing; a spider supportedconcentric with said shaft, said spider resting in said annular channeland being smaller in diameter than said channel; a washer around saidspider, said washer engaging the walls of said channel to form anannular chamber; spring clips spaced around said washer; and means insaid annular chamber for retarding any movement of said spider in saidannular channel.

5. In a turbine pump, the combination of: a casing. said casing havingan annular channel therein; a shaft in said casing; a spider supportedconcentric with said shaft, said spider resting in said annular channeland being smaller in diameter than said channel; a washer around saidspider, said washer engaging the walls of said channel to form anannular chamber; spring clips spaced around said washer; a ring adaptedto hold said clips in engagement with said washer; and means in saidannular chamber for retarding any movement of said spider in saidannular channel.

6. In a turbine pump, the combination of: lengths of discharge casing;couplings joining said lengths, said couplings providing annularchannels, each channel providing opposed side walls and a bottom wall;spiders in said annular channels and slidable relative to said sidewalls, said spiders being of smaller diameter than said bottom walls topermit sidewise movement of said spiders relative to said couplings; atubing extending through said spiders; and means for placing a tensionon said tubing.

7. ln a turbine pump, the combination of: a discharge casing, the axisof which may be curved, said discharge casing havmg a plurality ofannular channels formed along the length thereof, each channel providingopposed. side walls and a bottom wall; a tubing extending through saidcasing; spiders surroundingsaid tubing and extending into said annularchannels, said spiders being of smaller diameter than said bottom wallsof said channels to permit sidewise movement of said tubing relative tosaid casing, said spiders cooperating with the Walls of said channels toprovide annular chambers; means for supplying a fluid to each of saidchambers from a remote point; and means for supporting said tubing fromits upper end so that its axis tends to assume a straight line.

8. In a turbine pump, the combination of: a discharge casing, the axisof which may lbe curved, said discharge casing having a plurality ofannular channels formed along the length thereof a shaft extendingthrough said casing; spiders supported concentric with said shaft andAextending into said annular channels in fluid-tight relationship withthe upper and lower walls thereof, said channels ,containing a fluidwhich is displaceable to allow a slow sidewise. movement of said shaftrelative to said casing but which damps out quick sidewise movements;and means for supporting said shaft.

9. In combination: walls forming an annular channel; and an annular ringextending into said channel and being slidalble sidewise therein influid-tight relationship with said walls thereof to forman annularchamber, said chamber being filled with a liquid.

ln testimony whereof, have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this 5th day of December, 1927.

JOHN A. WINTROATH.

